Clearing space - decisions about pitchers

Third and last in my series on the conundrums of protecting players from Rule V, getting rid of deadwood, choosing what to do about free agents and lining up trades. The Outfield and Infield had a lot of names and decisions, but nothing like the pitching staff.

Here we have our Ace – Berrios – who has worn down in August as an annual ritual letting others that the Ace spot until he recovers – and hopefully he can. Looking at performance is not just a calendar event – we might also look at who he has been suffering against and it is not an all-star group of teams. So, is he an ACE? We have no one else and we still have him under control. So, do we extend him? Putting an Ace in front of him, adding more quality to the rotation would do a lot.

Behind him is Pineda, but he is unsigned after this year and we just paid for two years to get one. Do we resign? Will he resign?

Odorizzi was an All Star then he stunk and now he looks good but he is a free agent. Do we resign him?
Gibson continues to perform as an underperforming pitcher with potential, but he is too old to have potential anymore. Do we resign him.

Perez has an option – do we take it? Great start, horrible middle, is he okay now? Not after his performance with against the Tigers!

Smeltzer came in and looked good, then he looked bad, and now he looks like a gimmick that might not have a lot of upside – is he in the rotation next year?

Thorpe has stuff, he has looked good. He looks like he should be in the rotation next year.
Graterol looks and sounds good because we actually have not seen him. Is he a starter or reliever next year or is he a bust?

Stewart has been up and down and frankly he looks like a pitcher who has shown us all he has and it is not great.
Littell seems to have risen and looks good, but that is as a reliever. Can he start again? Should he?
Poppen has some stuff, but is it enough for the MLB staff?

The Pen has Rogers on the top – can he keep it up? Romo has been great – do we keep him? Dyson has done well – is he long range? Duffey and May look like they are ready to settle in to the BP. Who do we keep? And Who do we let go? The starting rotation has the most fluidity.

Cody Stashak has debuted – did you like what you saw? Who is Randy Dobnak? Is Gonsalves still a prospect or someone who missed his turn? Did Romero get moved to the pen to be moved to the DFA list?

Has Ryne Harper had his fifteen minutes of fame? Can Hildenberger come back or was his strange delivery a short-term success? Marcos Diplan is a name that came in a trade but has not grown into a person of prominence.

And can Alcala jump to the pen and be a difference maker?

That is a long list. We do not know if there will be a trade – we do not know who will DFA nor do we know the trade scenarios. Is Balazovic ready soon? Is there a FA we can afford and attract from other teams? Is there a trade?

You should break down who you see as candidates for the rotation in your conclusion. Otherwise good article.

For our rotation next year we have Berrios and possibly Martin I can see the Twins picking up his option if they are sure they can't sign 2 of Odorizzi, Pineda, and Gibson to extensions. What I see happening in the rotation is Berrios, resign one of our FA pitchers, I'm not sure about our third d starter, Martin and a rookie. We have lots of pitchers coming up and if Martin pitches the same this year he may have competition for a job at some point next year.

Also we seem to have enough quality that we can cycle through pitchers again in our bullpen like we did this year. So we will have Rogers, Duffey, May, Dyson, and a big competition. I would list Littel for a bullpen spot but he may be in competition for the rotation still. I could see us signing an arm even reupping Romo.

With Gibson down and Perez not showing life, it is the opportunity for Thorpe and possibly Stewart and Smeltzder to show that they belong in the rotation and can help the Twins in 2020. I'm sure they can get innings, as an opener or duo games, if nothing else.

My stock in Perez has shifted south. They will keep him on the roster until they need to make a decision.

Sad to hear the Gibson news. Have to see how he recovers. Might get him for an additional year now.

I'm sure Odorizzi will explore the free agent marketplace. The Twins could've signed him in June and vastly overpaid. Now it is wait and see for a five-inning starter.

Overall, money speaks. Can you get more elsewhere? Can you egt someone of equal value to your loss in the marketplace?

The Twins should explore signing a front line starter and a closer, period. Like what they needed at the trade deadline. They could trade, but the worth of major league redy talent will be showcased and hopefully not tank like Romero and Gonsalves has this seawson...think what their trade value was last winter compared to the possibly of DFA this off-season. Whew.

The Twins will add 6-8 guys to the 40-man. They lose six easily with free agency and can shuffle a couple more folks.

I don't see keeping Poppen, Dobnak and Stashak. One will definity be DFA by spring training. Two might not make it out of spring training. Depending on what they show in September, tradebait.

I see hope for Smeltzer and Thrope, not so much for Stewart. I am still out on Dobnick.Stashek looks more like bullpen filler to me (but small sample size). Poppen I do not see making it.

Can see Twins putting QO on both Oderizzi and Pineda (though I am hoping to sign Pineda at like 3/45 or 4/60) and that may be light.Oderizzi I am hoping to keep for one to two years until we see if some of the better Twins starting pitching prospects make it.

Still hoping the Twins sign an ace, but that does not seem like the Twins way.Other way might trade with Cleveland some of our outfield depth, for some of their starting pitching depth.

I see hope for Smeltzer and Thrope, not so much for Stewart. I am still out on Dobnick.Stashek looks more like bullpen filler to me (but small sample size). Poppen I do not see making it.

Can see Twins putting QO on both Oderizzi and Pineda (though I am hoping to sign Pineda at like 3/45 or 4/60) and that may be light.Oderizzi I am hoping to keep for one to two years until we see if some of the better Twins starting pitching prospects make it.

Still hoping the Twins sign an ace, but that does not seem like the Twins way.Other way might trade with Cleveland some of our outfield depth, for some of their starting pitching depth.

I just cannot imagine these two rivals trading strength to one another.

Sorry to be picky...but the word is "re-sign" when referring to a pitcher signing a new contract. It is the choice of a person holding an elected office as to whether to "resign" the position and leave his/her office or to stay in office. It is a common mistake and maybe many of you feel it is moot (not mute), Go Twins.

Gibson is the toughest call to me. He looked like he broke through last year. This year hasn't been as good but the guy had E Coli and now has ulcerative colitis. Those are two very nasty diseases and could really explain the lack of stamina in the middle innings. I don't think we can write him off based on this season.

I say we re-sign Pineda if possible at 15m a year for 2-3 years. I'd offer Odorizzi3 years 35-40m and QO him if he says no.Offer Gibson something a little more modest like 2 years, 25-27m, with a 3rd year option at 15m. If he says no, make him a Qualifying Offer. I would wait on Perez' option until those 3 play out. In the unlikely event we get all three, Perez goes and Thorpe goes into the rotation. If we lose 1 or 2, Perez becomes the fall back.

I would let Odorizzi, Perez and Gibson walk. I would attempt to resign Pineda to a 2 year deal, I would even sign him for more per year to not have to go 3 years. My guess is it would take something like 2 year/36 million. For next season I would be prepared to start Thorpe, but pair him with a right handed opener (Littell or even Dobniak). One of the things that I wish the Twins would have experimented with is the opener, it looks to be a pretty big weapon that isn't being properly used by hardly anyone other than Tampa Bay. I think MN could possibly have two rotation spots that use an opener next year, possibly Littell/Thorpe and Smeltzer/Dobnak.